Doug McDermott explains how Kings almost selected him in 2014 NBA Draft – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Newly signed Kings forward Doug McDermott almost moved to Sacramento a decade ago.

McDermott, who agreed to a one-year deal with the team on Wednesday, recently stated that he was on the team’s radar ahead of the 2014 NBA Draft.

“I’ve always looked forward to Sacramento,” McDermott told reporters Friday. “I came here and trained…they met with us in Chicago.”

The Kings had the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 draft, which they used to select guard Nik Stauskas. The Denver Nuggets selected McDermott three picks later and then traded him to the Chicago Bulls on draft night.

Sacramento traded Stauskas to the Philadelphia 76ers the following offseason in a return that included a 2017 first-round draft pick swap that the Kings used to select point guard De’Aaron Fox.

McDermott has played for six teams over his 10-year NBA career, most recently with the Indiana Pacers last season after starting the year with the San Antonio Spurs.

A decade after the Kings passed on him three picks before he was drafted, he is now enthusiastically joining the team.

“I’ve always been a fan of the organization,” McDermott said. “I kind of missed being there [Arco Arena]you know, with the In-N-Out Burger next to it. But [Golden 1 Center] It was great, the fans were great and it’s a special place to play.”

McDermott has shot 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range in his 10 years in the NBA. He is expected to add more size and shooting ability to complement the Kings’ core of Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.

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